Across Generations: LKYSPP Alumni Philippines Welcomes Incoming Students and New Graduates

From established public-sector and policy leaders to the newest members of the alumni community, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Alumni Philippines Chapter brought generations of the LKYSPP community together in Manila.

On 25 July 2026, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Alumni Philippines Chapter held its Annual Send-Off and Welcome Dinner at Sourdough Café, The Proscenium Residences in Rockwell, Makati.

The gathering brought together incoming students preparing for their NUS journey, members of the Class of 2026 returning as new alumni, and LKYSPP graduates representing nearly two decades of cohorts. 

Welcoming the Next Generation

Chapter President Jong Cornelio (MPA 2010) opened the evening with a welcome message, joined by Executive Committee members Jamie Duque-Daileg (MPP 2016), Kristina Mojica (MPA 2018), and Keila Garcia (MPP 2020). 

The Chapter welcomed four incoming students: Gizli Venz Gonzales (MPA), Joanna Marie Acosta (MPA), Monica Rivera (MPA), and Veronica Mae Escarez (MPP). 

Over dinner, alumni shared practical advice on making the most of the LKYSPP and wider NUS experience. Conversations also touched on how exposure to Singapore's policymaking framework can inform careers in public policy.

From Students to Alumni

The evening was also a homecoming of sorts, formally welcoming recent graduates into the alumni network.

Joining the community as members of the Class of 2026 were Micholo Andrei Gabriel I. Cucio (MPP 2026), Jhun Fajutagana (MPP 2026), Anne Marie Rey (MPP 2026), Daniella Rae Subosa (MPP 2026), and Angelo Templonuevo (MPA 2026). 

Their transition from students to alumni captured the spirit of the evening: as one group prepares to leave Manila for NUS, another returns ready to remain connected and contribute to the community.

An Alumni Community Across Generations

Despite heavy rain and traffic, the dinner drew a strong and enthusiastic turnout, with alumni gathering for an evening of fellowship and meaningful connections.

Among the alumni in attendance were Maria Anthonette Velasco Allones (MPM 2006), Mariliza V. Kalaw (MPM 2011), Richard Tan (MPM 2012), Noreen Boots M. Gragasin (MPM 2016), Justin Albert Muyot (MPP 2017), S. Magnolia Olvido (MPP 2017), Adnan Ahmad (MPP 2017), Roman Skorzus (MPP 2017), Rey Padit (MPP 2018), Sheila Mae Sabalburo (MPP 2018), Isabel Hernando (MPP 2018), Wesley John Gonzales (MPM 2018), Dianne Fajardo-Valencia (MPP 2020), Aris S. Manguera (MPA 2025), Ma. Ricca Pear Sulit (MPA 2025), Carleen Reyes (MPP 2025), Ian Kenneth Dingal (MPP 2025), Lodigario Rigor Jr. (MPP), and Glenn Banaguas (SFPS). 

Also joining the gathering was Karla Hotchkiss-Rufino (NUS MBA 2010), adding a welcome cross-school connection from the wider NUS alumni community. 

Passing Experience Forward

The gathering reflected what an alumni network can offer at different stages of the NUS journey: a send-off for those just beginning, a welcome home for those who have recently graduated, and an enduring community for alumni across generations.

For LKYSPP Alumni Philippines and the wider NUS Alumni Network Manila, it is also a reminder that the value of the NUS experience continues well beyond the classroom. Each returning cohort brings new experiences and perspectives to share with those who follow.

As the Philippine LKYSPP community continues to grow, there will be more opportunities to connect incoming students and recent graduates with alumni working across public policy, government, development, research, and other sectors—and to strengthen connections across the wider NUS community.

25 July 2026 · Sourdough Café, Rockwell, Makati

Contributed by Jong Cornelio (MPA ’10) to the NUS Alumni Network Manila.